Xiaomi’s current MIUI-based smartphones offer users dozens of built-in and third-party apps. But the more programs are installed, the harder it is to find the right one manually — especially if they are scattered across folders or hidden in menus. Fortunately, the system provides several quick search options that not all brand device owners know about.
In this article, we’ll break down all the available methods for finding apps on Xiaomi – from basic features to little-known tricks for power users. You will learn how to set up a global search, use gestures for quick access, restore hidden icons and even create your own shortcuts for commonly used programs. MIUI 12/13/14 and the nuances of working on different models - from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra.
Standard Application Search in MIUI: Where to Search and How to Use
The most obvious way to find an app on Xiaomi is to use the built-in search bar, which is available right on the home screen and in the app menu, to open it:
- Swipe your finger down the main screen (starting at the top edge).
- At the top of the screen will appear a field with the words Search for applications and settings.
- Start typing the program name – the system will show the results in real time.
This works on all devices with MIUI 10 and newer, but there are some nuances. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the search bar can be hidden by default — you need to activate it in the launcher settings. Also, it's worth remembering that standard search looks not only for apps, but also for system settings, contacts and even messages. To narrow down the results, use filters at the top of the screen.
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If the search bar does not appear when swiping down, check the launcher settings: go to Settings → Home. screen → Search on the home. screen and turn on the option “Show search bar”.
On devices with MIUI 14 (such as Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5), search has become “smarter”: it analyzes the frequency of use of applications and displays the most relevant options from above. However, this feature only works when personalization is enabled → recommendations in system settings.
Global Search vs. Application Menu Search: What’s the Difference
Many users confuse two different search tools in MIUI: global search (available via swipe down) and application menu search (opens by tapping a magnifier at the bottom of the app screen).
| Function | Global search | Search for the app menu |
|---|---|---|
| Where to find | Applications, settings, contacts, messages, files | Only installed applications |
| Hot keys | Swipe down on the main screen | Tap on the magnifying glass icon in the app menu |
| Personalization | Analyzes the user’s behavior | Sorts by alphabet or installation date |
| Offline work | Yes (except for web results) | Yes. |
| Support for voice input | Yes (starting with MIUI 12.5) | No. |
For most tasks, you can search the app menu, but if you want to find not only the program, but also the associated settings (for example, WhatsApp permissions or notifications from Telegram), use global search. Note that on some models (for example, the POCO X5 Pro), global search can be disabled by the manufacturer - it will have to be activated manually.
Hidden Search Opportunities: Voice Commands and Gestures
What few people know is that MIUI has hidden search features that make it much faster to access applications, and one of them is voice search.
- Open a global search (swipe down).
- Slip the microphone icon to the right of the input line.
- Say the name of the application (e.g., "Open Camera" or "Run Chrome"). What phrases does voice search understand? The system recognizes commands in Russian and English, including: - "Open [application name]" - "Start [application name]" - "Find [application name]" - "Show [application name]" Also supports complex queries like "Open Bluetooth settings" or "Show latest photos in the Gallery."
Another useful trick is gesture search. On devices with MIUI 13/14, you can set up a double-touch search on the lock screen: Settings → Screen lock → Gestures → Double-touch. Select the Search option, so you don't have to unlock your smartphone to find the app.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 and other tablets of the brand have a unique feature called "Floating Search Window." To activate it, hold your finger on the icon of any app on the menu, then drag it to the top right corner of the screen, and you will see a mini-search window that you can use on top of other programs.
Search for hidden and disabled apps: how to return lost icons
Sometimes apps disappear from the home screen or menu, even though they're installed on the system, and this can happen after a MIUI update, a reset, or an accidental shutdown, to find these programs:
- 🔍 Check the Hidden Apps folder: Open the Apps menu → tap three dots in the upper right corner → "Hidden applications. There may be programs that you hid manually.
- 📱 Use the system settings: go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications and sort the list by "All apps." This shows even those programs that don't have icons on the screen.
- 🔄 Restore Standard Applications: If a system program (such as Camera or Gallery) is missing, go to Settings → Annexes → Restore standard applications.
- 🛠️ Check for disabled programs: in the same section "Application Management" select the "Disabled" filter - there may be applications that are deactivated by the system or user.
If the app appears in settings but does not appear in the menu, try resetting the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache.
☑️ Search for hidden applications
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A lightweight MIUI) The option to restore standard applications may not be available. In this case, try updating the firmware to the latest version.
Setting up quick access: folders, shortcuts and widgets
If you use the same apps often, it makes sense to set them up for quick access. MIUI has several ways to optimize your search.
- 📂 Home Screen Folders: Drag an icon from one app onto another to create a folder, name it by topic (e.g., "Social Networking" or "Working").
- 🔗 Shortcuts on the lock screen: in Settings → Screen locking → Shortcuts can be added to up to 5 apps that will be available without unlocking.
- 🖥️ Quick Start widgets: Press and hold the empty space on the home screen → "Widgets" → Select "Quick Start" (available on the MIUI 13+).
- ⚡ Hot corners: in Settings → Additionally. → Hot corners can be assigned to start the application when swiping from the corner of the screen.
On devices with MIUI 14, the feature "Favorites" has appeared: swipe to the right on the home screen to open the panel with frequently used programs. This list is generated automatically, but it can be edited manually in the launcher settings.
For advanced users, there is another trick: creating shortcuts with ADB. For example, you can add a direct link to the developer’s hidden settings to the home screen:
adb shell am start -a android.settings.DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGSThis method only works on devices with the bootloader unlocked and USB debugging enabled.
Search Problems: Why it Can't Find an App and How to Fix It
Sometimes MIUI searches fail to work correctly, fail to find installed programs, fail to open errors, or fail to open at all.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Search doesn't find any apps | Search engine cache damaged | Clean the cache in Settings → Applications → Search → Storage |
| Search string doesn't appear | Search turned off in the launcher settings | Include in Settings → Home. screen → Search for home. screen |
| Search is slow. | Too much indexed data | Limit indexing to Settings → Search → Search settings |
| Voice search is not working. | Language packages are missing | Download the language to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Voice input |
| Search shows irrelevant results | Personalization settings have gone wrong | Reset settings in Settings → Personalization → Reset recommendations |
If none of these things worked, try resetting the launcher to the standard settings: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Three Dots → Reset. This will bring back the standard layout of the icons and restore the search.
⚠️ Note: On devices with custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS), the search may not work properly due to the lack of original services. MIUI. In this case, only reflashing to the official version will help.
Alternative launchers: how to improve search on Xiaomi
If the built-in MIUI search doesn't suit you, you can install a third-party launcher with advanced features. Here are some proven options:
- 🔎 Nova Launcher: Supports gestures, responsive icons and advanced search with filters.Suitable for Xiaomi Mi 11 and newer.
- 🌐 Microsoft Launcher: Integrated with Bing and offers search not only by apps, but also by files on the device.
- 📱 Action Launcher: has a built-in QuickPage panel with a search and widget of frequently used applications.
- 🔍 Apex Launcher: allows you to customize hotkeys for search and create your own categories of applications.
To install an alternative launcher: Play Store → Find a launcher → Install → Click Home → Select a new launcher as the main one.
Xiaomi Black Shark and other gaming smartphones of the brand have a branded "Shark Launcher", optimized for gamers. It supports search by games sorted by genre and frequency of use.
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The side launchers may conflict with proprietary MIUI features (such as navigation gestures or always active display) and check compatibility on the forums dedicated to your model before installing.